Order of the President
of the Republic of Azerbaijan on
state program 'Resorts
of Azerbaijan
Mine waters, various types of oil and volcanic mud have been used in
Azerbaijan from ancient times for medical and prophylactic purposes. For
centuries our country has been popular with its medical oil exported as a
unique drug via historical Silk Road. From XIX century scientific research
of medical natural resources started in different places in Azerbaijan.
Results of studies conducted gave chance to call Azerbaijan the land of
resorts.
Organized formation of the net of resorts in Azerbaijan has been implemented
since XX century. Respective of suitable climate, different mineral waters,
medical mud and oil resources the classification of natural resorts located
in separate climate zone of our republic and possessing rich medical
significance was set and respective infrastructure was created. By
establishment of Balneology and Physiotherapy Institute in 1936 the new
phase in scientific study of natural resorts started.
In second half of XX century there was the formed net of resorts in
Azerbaijan. System of sanatoriums, pensions and rest homes created at the
time covered almost entire territory of Azerbaijan. Necessary conditions
were created for formation of treatment and rest in Autonomous Republic of
Nakhchyvan, Absheron Peninsula, Ganca-Hajykend-Goygol, Sheki-Zagatala,
Shusha-Turshsu, Guba-Khachmaz-Nabran, Lankaran-Astara and other regions that
had huge resort-treatment opportunities.
Special attention was paid to development of resorts in Azerbaijan from
1970. Just in the same year Absheron Peninsula, Naftalan and Istisu resorts
were included in the list of resorts of all-union importance upon decision
of USSR government. In the 1980s the special decision of government
considered expansion of net of resorts in Azerbaijan, realization of
big-scale projects in Khachmaz-Nabran zone but complicated political
processes started interfered implementation of this plan.
Economic and social crisis of the 1990s had very negative impact on
development of resort zones. Some of sanatoriums and rest homes have
remained in territories occupied by Armenian armed units as result of
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, some put into use for
resettlement of refugees and IDPs. Despite certain actions are taken at the
moment in frame of the regions development program towards rebirth of
resorts in separate regions, level of works done does not meet the modern
requirements.
Considering big importance of rich natural medical resources of Azerbaijan
in protection of health of population, I decree:
1. Economic Development Ministry of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Health
Ministry of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall prepare and submit within 3
months draft State Program 'Resorts of Azerbaijan' to the President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan considering proposals of Trade Union Confederation of
the Republic of Azerbaijan.
2. Irrespective of subordination and property form, except local investment,
involvement of foreign investments in development of resorts of Azerbaijan,
also formation of infrastructure meeting modern standards for treatment and
rest of citizens of Azerbaijan and foreign countries and strategy of
development in phases of treatment-rest centers in 2007-2017 shall be
assured during development of draft Program given in section 1 of this
Order.
3. The Cabinet of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall solve issues arisen from
this Order.
4. This Order comes into force from the day of signing.
Ilham Aliyev,
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Baku
city, February 27, 2007.
